Michael A. Grant is a freelance musician, proficient on clarinets, bassoon, saxophones and flute. He is currently based in Manchester but available for work throughout the universe.
Michael is an experienced performer in a variety of genres, including orchestral music, big band swing and traditional jazz. He is also in high demand as a reed player for musical theatre productions, on account of his strong sight-reading ability and expertise across multiple instruments.
Furthermore, he is a highly skilled composer and arranger, especially in classical and musical theatre styles.
Based in Manchester, Greater Manchester
= areas covered (up to 100 miles)
I am happy to play virtually anything you want, within reason! But by way of example, here is a list of the songs in my regular solo repertoire to give you the general idea:
----------Pop - 1960s----------
A Whiter Shade Of Pale (Procol Harum)
All You Need Is Love (The Beatles)
Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)
He Ain't Heavy... He's My Brother (The Hollies)
Here, There and Everywhere (The Beatles)
Hey Jude (The Beatles)
Lady Madonna (The Beatles)
Michelle (The Beatles)
Nights In White Satin (The Moody Blues)
Oh, Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)
Penny Lane (The Beatles)
Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
She Loves You (The Beatles)
She's Leaving Home (The Beatles)
Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)
Unchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)
When I'm Sixty Four (The Beatles)
Working My Way Back To You (The Four Seasons)
Yesterday (The Beatles)
----------Pop - 1970s----------
Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)
Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel)
Candle In The Wind (Elton John)
Chiquitita (ABBA)
Crocodile Rock (Elton John)
Dancing Queen (ABBA)
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John & Kiki Dee)
Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (Elton John)
Fernando (ABBA)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)
Honey, Honey (ABBA)
How Deep Is Your Love (The Bee Gees)
If You Leave Me Now (Chicago)
Imagine (John Lennon)
Jet (Paul McCartney & Wings)
Killing Me Softly With His Song (Roberta Flack)
Knowing Me, Knowing You (ABBA)
Life On Mars? (David Bowie)
Mamma Mia (ABBA)
Money, Money, Money (ABBA)
Mull Of Kintyre (Wings)
Never Let Her Slip Away (Andrew Gold)
Rocket Man (Elton John)
Someone Saved My Life Tonight (Elton John)
Stayin' Alive (The Bee Gees)
Take A Chance On Me (ABBA)
Thank You For The Music (ABBA)
The Air That I Breathe (The Hollies)
Tiny Dancer (Elton John)
Waterloo (ABBA)
When I Need You (Leo Sayer)
Without You (Harry Nilsson)
Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)
You're So Vain (Carly Simon)
Your Song (Elton John)
----------Pop - 1980s----------
(I've Had) The Time Of My Life (from 'Dirty Dancing')
Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (Phil Collins)
Blue Eyes (Elton John)
Don't Stop Believin' (Journey)
Eye Of The Tiger (Survivor)
Have I Told You Lately (Van Morrison)
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues (Elton John)
I'm Still Standing (Elton John)
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (Starship)
One Day I'll Fly Away (Randy Crawford)
Sacrifice (Elton John)
Super Trouper (ABBA)
The Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
The Winner Takes It All (ABBA)
Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper)
We Belong (Pat Benatar)
----------Pop - 1990s----------
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You (Bryan Adams)
2 Become 1 (The Spice Girls)
Falling Into You (Celine Dion)
I Am Blessed (Eternal)
I Believe I Can Fly (R. Kelly)
I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)
Kiss From A Rose (Seal)
Love Is All Around (Wet Wet Wet)
Never Ever (All Saints)
Nothing Compares 2 U (Sinead O'Connor)
Tears In Heaven (Eric Clapton)
Torn (Natalie Imbruglia)
Words (Boyzone)
----------Pop - 2000s----------
1973 (James Blunt)
All About You (McFly)
All This Time (Michelle)
Apologize (OneRepublic)
Bad Romance (Lady Gaga)
Beautiful Day (U2)
Born To Try (Delta Goodrem)
Broken Strings (James Morrison feat. Nelly Furtado)
Chasing Pavements (Adele)
Clocks (Coldplay)
Cold Shoulder (Adele)
Cry Me A River (Justin Timberlake)
Cry Me Out (Pixie Lott)
Don't Know Why (Norah Jones)
Everytime (Britney Spears)
Fight For This Love (Cheryl Cole)
Fireflies (Owl City)
Hallelujah (Alexandra Burke)
Halo (Beyonce)
Hometown Glory (Adele)
Human (The Killers)
I Don't Feel Like Dancin' (Scissor Sisters)
If I Were A Boy (Beyonce)
If Tomorrow Never Comes (Ronan Keating)
Leave Right Now (Will Young)
Life For Rent (Dido)
Love Story (Taylor Swift)
Mad World (Michael Andrews feat. Gary Jules)
Make You Feel My Love (Adele)
Other Side Of The World (KT Tunstall)
Patience (Take That)
Put Your Records On (Corinne Bailey Rae)
Right As Rain (Adele)
Rule The World (Take That)
Run (Leona Lewis)
Something Beautiful (Robbie Williams)
Take A Bow (Rihanna)
The Climb (Joe McElderry)
The Closest Thing To Crazy (Katie Melua)
The Fear (Lily Allen)
The Voice Within (Christina Aguilera)
Tonight (Westlife)
Viva La Vida (Coldplay)
Warwick Avenue (Duffy)
You Raise Me Up (Westlife)
----------Pop - 2010s----------
22 (Taylor Swift)
All About Tonight (Pixie Lott)
Best Song Ever (One Direction)
Big When I Was Little (Eliza Doolittle)
Born To Die (Lana Del Rey)
Call My Name (Cheryl Cole)
Domino (Jessie J)
Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall (Coldplay)
Firework (Katy Perry)
Glad You Came (The Wanted)
Grenade (Bruno Mars)
Hey Porsche (Nelly)
I'll Be Waiting (Adele)
Jar Of Hearts (Christina Perri)
Jealousy (Will Young)
Just Give Me A Reason (P!nk)
Last Friday Night (Katy Perry)
Let Her Go (Passenger)
Love Goes Down (Plan B)
Panic Cord (Gabrielle Aplin)
Right Place Right Time (Olly Murs)
Rolling In The Deep (Adele)
Set Fire To The Rain (Adele)
Someone Like You (Adele)
Stay (Rihanna)
The A Team (Ed Sheeran)
The Flood (Take That)
Titanium (David Guetta feat. Sia)
Turning Tables (Adele)
Walks Like Rihanna (The Wanted)
We Found Love (Rihanna)
What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction)
----------Jazz & Swing----------
(Love Is) The Tender Trap (Frank Sinatra)
Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
Ain't That A Kick In The Head (Dean Martin)
But Not For Me (George Gershwin)
Come Fly With Me (Frank Sinatra)
Flying Home
Georgia On My Mind
Hit That Jive Jack
I Got Rhythm (George Gershwin)
I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise (George Gershwin)
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?
Jump, Jive An' Wail
Love Walked In (George Gershwin)
Me And My Shadow (Sammy Davis Jnr. & Frank Sinatra)
My Way (Frank Sinatra)
Nice Work If You Can Get It (George Gershwin)
Oh, Lady Be Good! (George Gershwin)
Perdido
Someone To Watch Over Me (George Gershwin)
Somethin' Stupid (Frank Sinatra)
Summertime (George Gershwin)
Swing That Music
That's Amore (Dean Martin)
The Lady Is A Tramp (Frank Sinatra)
The Man I Love (George Gershwin)
They Can't Take That Away From Me (George Gershwin)
Tuxedo Junction
What Kind Of Fool Am I? (Sammy Davis Jnr.)
You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You (Dean Martin)
Zoot Suit Riot
----------Musicals----------
A Whole New World (from 'Aladdin')
Circle Of Life (from 'The Lion King')
Defying Gravity (from 'Wicked')
Don't Cry For Me Argentina (from 'Evita')
Good Morning Baltimore (from 'Hairspray')
I Dreamed A Dream (from 'Les Miserables')
I Know Him So Well (from 'Chess')
Love Never Dies (from 'Love Never Dies')
Seasons Of Love (from 'Rent')
Suddenly Seymour (from 'Little Shop Of Horrors')
Tell Me It's Not True (from 'Blood Brothers')
The Letter (from 'Billy Elliot')
----------Film & TV----------
(Where Do I Begin?) Love Story (from 'Love Story')
A Musical Joke (BBC Horse Of The Year Theme)
A Question Of Sport
A Thousand Years (from 'Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1')
All Of The Stars (from 'The Fault In Our Stars')
Atlas (from 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire')
Born Free (from 'Born Free')
Do You Want To Build A Snowman? (from 'Frozen')
Everything Is AWESOME!!! (from 'The LEGO Movie')
Grandstand
Happy (from 'Despicable Me 2')
I See Fire (from 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug')
Light And Tuneful (Wimbledon Opening Theme)
Match Of The Day
Moon River (from 'Breakfast At Tiffany's')
Once Upon A Dream (from 'Maleficent')
Out Of The Blue (Theme to "Sports Report")
Pop Looks Bach (Ski Sunday Theme)
Skyfall (from 'Skyfall')
Soul Limbo (Test Match Special Theme)
Suddenly (from 'Les Miserables')
Take My Breath Away (from 'Top Gun')
The Godfather (Theme) (from 'The Godfather')
Up Where We Belong (from 'An Officer And A Gentleman')
Where Do I Begin (from 'Love Story')
World In Union (World Cup Rugby 1991 Theme)
World Of Sport
You Must Love Me (from 'Evita')
----------Traditional----------
(There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)
Amazing Grace
Down By The Riverside
Go Down Moses
I Found The Answer
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Lean On Me
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
When The Saints Go Marching In
----------Christmas----------
A Spaceman Came Travelling (Chris de Burgh)
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Blue Christmas
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S
Fairytale Of New York (The Pogues)
Frosty The Snowman
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (John Lennon)
Hark, The Herald Angels Sing
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Home For The Holidays
I Believe In Father Christmas (Greg Lake)
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day (Wizzard)
Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bells
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Lonely This Christmas (Mud)
Mary's Boy Child
Merry Xmas Everybody (Slade)
Mistletoe And Wine (Cliff Richard)
O Little Town Of Bethlehem
Once In Royal David's City
Santa Baby
Silent Night
Sleigh Ride
Stop The Cavalry (Jona Lewie)
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
The Christmas Waltz
Winter Wonderland
Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney)
This depends on the occasion, but for most things I am entirely self-contained. I provide all my own instruments and equipment, and if a backing track or PA system is required I have a portable battery-powered speaker that I can bring along.
I have a basic portable battery-powered speaker that I can bring if backing tracks or a PA system are required.
I don't have any lighting equipment so that would need to be provided by the client if required.
As long as there is a suitable space for me to perform where I won't get rained/snowed/hailed on, that's the main thing!
Yes, if requested I can bring along my portable speaker and play appropriate background music between sets.
It's difficult to choose, however whilst still at university I played 1st clarinet for Holst's 'The Planets' in Durham Cathedral, with Durham University Symphony Orchestra, and to this day that remains a highlight. I have also performed on London's West End (deputising on 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' in 2016), in Malta (with the Welsh Musical Theatre Orchestra) and in Florence (with The Sam Jewison Orchestra).
I play such a variety of music that it's difficult to choose... To take one example, though, in the genre of jazz clarinet I take inspiration from great players like Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Barney Bigard and Edmond Hall, as well as more eccentric interpreters such as The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.
I started playing the clarinet when I was 7 years old, and basically kept going from there! While going through school, VI form and university I did more and more performing, as part of orchestras, jazz groups and pit bands (to name a few). I have now been freelancing for nearly 10 years, playing a wide variety of music in almost every conceivable situation!
I enjoy a variety of different performances. For example, I really love playing light traditional jazz as background music for wedding receptions, but I also relish performing in pit orchestras for musical theatre shows. In a more classical vein, I like to play as part of a large orchestra as well as in smaller chamber ensembles.
I have recently acquired a beautiful contrabassoon made by Sonora, which is giving me no end of joy!
I usually aim to arrive approximately 1 hour before the start of a performance to be on the safe side. I don't normally have lots of equipment with me so setup often only takes 15 minutes or so.
I'm very flexible regarding set times, but I would commonly expect to play for around 2 hours (with a break in the middle).
Yes I am, but please make sure there's a wet weather plan in place, in case the British weather turns against us!
This depends on the type of event - obviously for an orchestral concert or musical theatre show all the sheet music will be provided by the client. However if I'm playing background music at a party or event then I have a standard repertoire list for clients to choose from (or I'm happy to select the set list myself).
I am also happy to take additional requests as long as I have them in plenty of time to arrange the sheet music and backing tracks etc.
"What a player! Such a great partner. My one-stop-shop for woodwinds! Highly recommended!!”
– samferrara
“Wow – what a wonderful job you’ve done! I didn’t know if I was going to get round to listening to all of them tonight but I just had to keep going and have now listened to the whole thing and honestly it was a pleasure. […] I do hope you’ve enjoyed the project and I (we) are so grateful for you having not only done it, but doing it so well and so quickly!”
– Jack Mitchell Smith (composer of ‘Morella – Original Concept Album’, 2020)
"Michael’s playing was top drawer and he was 100% reliable, punctual and great to have around for the run. I’ll happily book him again and recommend him to others. Thanks Michael!”
– John Atkin (musical director of ‘Guys and Dolls’, 2018)
Here is a list of some of the clients I worked with over the course of 2024 (not including many private bookings):
Solo:
- Cote Brasserie (Worcester)
Orchestral:
- Stockport Symphony Orchestra (Debussy 'La Mer', Berlioz 'Symphonie Fantastique', Ravel 'Pavane pour une Infante Defunte')
With 'The Dixie Beats':
- Didsbury Jazz Club
- Leeds Jazz Club
- Eagley Jazz Club
- Glossop Jazz Club
- Rochdale Jazz Club
Musical theatre:
- BOST Musicals ('Annie')
- Ibstock Place School ('Footloose')
- Zodiac Theatre ('Elf the Musical')
- Junior Stage 80 ('Beauty and the Beast')
- St. Dunstans Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society ('Masquerade')
- Cowley International College ('Little Shop of Horrors')
- BOS Musical Theatre Company ('Oliver!')
- Southport Spotlights ('Company')
- Urmston Musical Theatre ('Oliver!')
- Mid Cheshire Musical Theatre Company ('Oliver!')
With 'The Jelly Roll Jazz Band':
- Kelso Racecourse
- Chepstow Racecourse
- John Lewis
- South of England Agricultural Society
- Farndale Show
- Musselburgh Racecourse
- Driffield Show
- Royal Lancashire Show
- Bakewell Country Festival
- Honley Show
- Duxford Air Show
- Royal Bath & West Show
- Regain Hearing
- Carlisle Jazz Club
In 2024:
- Bakewell Showground
- Bath & West Showground
- Carlisle Jazz Club
- Carlton Towers
- Chepstow Racecourse
- Cote Brasserie (Worcester)
- Crewe Hall Hotel
- Didsbury Jazz Club
- Driffield Showground
- Duxford Air Museum
- Eagley Jazz Club
- Glossop Jazz Club
- Harrogate Sun Pavilion
- John Lewis (Leeds)
- Kelso Racecourse
- Leeds Jazz Club
- Liverpool Empire
- Musselburgh Racecourse
- Northwich Memorial Court Theatre
- Rhyl Pavilion Theatre
- Rochdale Jazz Club
- Rockbeare Manor
- Sale Waterside
- Scarborough Spa Suncourt
- South of England Showground
- Southport Little Theatre
- Stockport Town Hall
... and many more!
Wedding
Birthday Party
Private Event
Corporate Event
Hotel / Restaurant Event
Bar / Venue Event
Funeral / Memorial
Wedding Proposal
Concert
Religious Event
Recording Session
Cruise
Charity Event
Theatre Show
Burns Night
Christmas Party
New Year's Eve
Classical
Film / TV
Opera
Musical Theatre
1920s Music
1930s Music
1940s Music
1950s Music
1960s Music
1970s Music
1980s Music
1990s Music
Jazz
Blues
Cabaret
Dixieland / Ragtime
Gypsy Jazz
Swing
Christmas
Military
Church Music
Easy Listening
Background Music
Pop
Acoustic
Covers
Motown
Tribute
Vintage
Rock
Classic Rock
Indie
Rock 'n' Roll
Instrumental
100% acoustic (no power)
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